Review of
the first performance of When He is
King by Mathew King.
Given by The Warlock Singers conducted by Graham Dinnage at
the Drive Methodist Church Sevenoaks on the 2nd
Dec 2006.
Submitted to the Sevenoaks Chronicle
It is rare for
Sevenoaks to host the first performance of a major musical
composition, and for those who attended the concert given
by the Warlock Singers last Friday at The Drive Methodist
Church, it was clear that the work When He Is King
by Mathew King was a
significant work and destined to join the repertoire.
The piece commissioned by the Warlock Singers is woven
around a number of well known carols and some perhaps less
well known. There is also a setting of a new poem,
Herod Speaks
by Alasdair Middleton, that
portrays a modern terrifying account of the slaughter of
the innocent children of Bethlehem, that has a strong
relevance to the governance of our world today.
The work contains elements of the Latin Mass and Christmas
narratives. The only instruments are a single trumpet, harp
and organ. The choice of these instruments had a resonance
and particular charm, the harp one minute soothing us then
together with trumpet and organ stirring us into life
with O Come O Come
Emmanuel. This
collage of carols and instruments overlaid with original
counterpoint and delightful obligato solos was surprising
and delightful.
The variations on Warlock’s Bethlehem
Down, according
to Mathew King, was a homage to this quintessentially
English composer, who created a new repertoire of Christmas
carols and this work was a fitting tribute to Warlock and
the English choral tradition.
The work was challenging for the choir but the sound was
exquisite. The balance and dynamic range of the singers was
impressive, and it would appear that most of the choir are
quite able to perform as soloists in their own right. We of
course would expect the choir to shine in their rendition
of Warlock carols and we were not disappointed, and how I
wished we could have spirited Warlock back for 15 minutes
to hear their wonderful interpretation of
Bethlehem
Down.
Congratulations to Graham Dinnage the choir’s Musical
Director, and I believe, an inspiration for a wonderful
evening.
John Bovington
3 December 2006